28 December 2023 , 19:39
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The extent of Oscar's fortunes since leaving Chelsea in December 2016 have come to light, with the Brazil international earning heaps of money since trading Europe for China.
Brazil international Oscar was just 20 years old when he joined the Blues in 2012, with the Champions League winners fighting off competition from across Europe for his signature. He won plenty ot trophies during his four-and-a-half years in London, including the Europa League under Rafa Benitez and the Premier League under Jose Mourinho.
Ahead of the 2017 season, Shanghai Port made the playmaker their marquee signing, at a time when clubs from the Chinese Super League were splashing the cash. Plenty of other big names moved to the competition both before and after Oscar, with most of them since leaving, but the 32-year-old has stood firm and been rewarded considerably in financial terms.
Long before the Saudi Pro League's recent spending, the Chinese Super League became home to a number of big-name stars lured by the promise of riches. Before Oscar made the move, the likes of Ramires, Demba Ba, Jackson Martinez and Hulk all made the switch.
More followed after Oscar, too, including Marko Arnautovic, Javier Mascherano and Yannick Carrasco. Now, though, Oscar is one of only a handful of survivors following changes to salary rules which saw countless stars fly the nest.
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That rule change was brought in towards the end of 2019, with Oscar signing new terms in Shanghai shortly before. According to The Mail, he makes just over £20m per year - or £146m over the course of his seven years in China.
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Oscar won his second Chinese Super League title in 2023 (Getty Images)“All football players want to earn money to help their families,” Oscar told Copa90 in 2017. “When I made the decision to come [to China], I was thinking more of my family than of my career.”
The comments show a brutal honesty about something players moving for that kind of money have sometimes attempted to avoid saying publicly. It's not just been about the money for Oscar, though, with the Brazilian also adding to his trophy cabinet in Shanghai.
His first Chinese Super League title came in 2018, with a cup win following one year later. The second, however, didn't come until 2023.
Oscar (right) was a popular player at Chelsea before leaving for China (Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)The league is not what it once was, though there are still a few players with Premier League experience. Shanghai Port certainly benefited from Oscar's continued presence this season, with his nine league goals helping them win the title by a five-point margin.
On the international front, though, Oscar has found himself in the Selecao wilderness for years, winning his last cap in 2015. But having played and scored at a home World Cup in 2014, he may feel he has already achieved all he needs.